Neck and head joint for a puppet



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United States Patent 3,391,485 NECK AND HEAD JOINT FOR A PUPPET WilliamB. Fosser, 4125 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60634 Originalapplication Oct. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 146,840, now Patent No. 3,229,411,dated Jan. 18, 1966. Divided and this application Sept. 6, 1966, Ser.No. 577,202

1 Claim. (Cl. 46-164) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A puppet unit includinga torso, a head and a neck. The head has a generally concave recess inits undersurface to fit over the upper end portion of the neck and theneck has a recess in the upper surface thereof. A coil spring affords aresilient connection between the neck and the head and has its endportions disposed in the recesses of the head and neck.

The head and neck each have a slot formed therein and a flat or leafspring extends between the head and neck and has its end portionsdisposed in the slots of the head and neck. The coil spring enables thehead to be flexed readily relative to the neck and the flat or leafspring affords a positive restoring force for returning the head to itsnormal position after each movement thereof and prevents distortion ofthe coil spring.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Ser. No.491,217, filed Sept. 29, 1965, now Patent No. 3,304,649, and entitledPuppet Theater Apparatus, and which latter application was a division ofmy earlier filed application, Ser. No. 146,840, filed Oct. 23, 1961, nowPatent No. 3,229,411.

This invention relates to a puppet theater of the general kind in whichpuppets are movable between various locations on a stage and are adaptedto be manipulated from beneath the stage.

The puppet theater of the present invention is especially adapted to beutilized to portray the settings and the action of the characters ofGrand Opera productions, such as Verdis Aida, Wagners The FlyingDutchman, and the like. In such instances the puppet figurescorresponding to the characters of the opera are manipulated inaccompaniment to suitable recordings of the opera.

In accordance with the present invention the proscenium is formed with acircular opening, the upper extent of which affords an arched openingfor a stage. The stage is positioned substantially at the eye level ofthe various viewers in the audience and slightly below the center of thecircular opening in the proscenium. The proscenium includes a sceneryholder for enabling an appropriate frontpiece to be positioned betweenthe lower portion of the stage and the circular opening in theproscenium. The scenery holder serves the dual function of blocking thelower portion of the stage from the view of the audience while lendingrealism to the setting of the puppet theater. The proscenium alsoincludes an illusion curtain and a blackout curtain, both of which maybe moved across the circular opening between the various acts of theopera or other puppet theater production. An annular light chamber isincorporated in the proscenium for illuminating the illusion curtainduring such times as the curtain may be closed; and to incorporate theforegoing features in a novel proscenium constitute further objects ofthe present invention.

The stage includes a series of track members defining a plurality oftrackways for supporting a puppet apparatus for sliding movementtherein. The trackways are interconnected so that a puppet can be movedto any desired location on the stage. In accordance with the ice presentinvention each of the track members is formed with a pair ofhorizontally extending and vertically spaced flanges which partly definethe sides of the trackways, and such a flanged construction is adaptedto cooperate with a puppet apparatus in a unique manner presently to bedescribed. Each individual track member can be adjustably positioned tofacilitate accurate alignment of a puppet apparatus slidably positionedwithin the trackway.

The puppet apparatus of the present invention includes a figure havingcomponent parts connected together in articulated connections so as tobe movable to simulate various movements of corresponding parts of thehuman body, and such a figure is supported on support structure whichincludes a circular platform member adapted to be slidably received inclosely fitted relation between the spaced flanges of the track membersdefining the trackways as described hereinabove. A support shaft extendstransversely through the center of the platform member and mounts thepuppet figure on the upper end thereof. The support platform and theshaft are adapted to be interconnected to one another at a fixed axialposition on the shaft to determine the standing position of the figure,but the platform is adapted to be released from and slidably axially onthe support shaft in the course of moving the puppet figure from astanding to a sitting position. To facilitate such movement of thepuppet figure from a standing to a sitting position a handle is atfixedto the lower end of the shaft, and as will be described in detail in thespecification to follow, the coaction between the flanged constructionof the track members of the stage and the edge portions of the platformmember which are engaged between such flanges enable such manipulationof the puppet figure to be obtained.

The torso of the puppet figure is of a two-part construction in which alower torso is fixed to the upper end of the support shaft and an uppertorso is flexibly mounted on the lower torso by a resilient connectionwhich permits bending of the upper torso with respect to the lowertorso. At the upper end of the upper torso a neck of the puppet figureis disposed for rotation within a socket formed in the upper torso. Thefigure includes a head which is resiliently mounted on the neck andtiltable thereon. A rod is connected to the neck and extends downwardlyand internally within the torso and through the support platform so thatthe head and neck can be rotated by manipulation of the rod from beneaththe platform. The rod includes a universal joint in the portion adjacentto the resilient connection between the upper and lower torsos. Controllines are attached to the head and upper torso at selected locationsthereon, and such control lines are passed downwardly through suitableopening in the support platform. By reason of such construction the headmay be tilted or rotated with the neck independently of and withoutrestriction to bending movement of the upper torso about the lowertorso. It is yet another object of this invention to incorporate theforegoing features in a novel puppet apparatus.

The puppet figure of the present invention also includes articulatedarms which are connected to the upper torso and which have hands at theextremities thereof.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatis now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying theseprinciples. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a puppet theater constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention and illustratedthe relationship between the position of the proscenium and a member ofthe audience;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the puppet theater showing theillusion curtain of the proscenium in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but with the curtains of the proscenium inan open position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the stage of the puppet theater and partly insection through the proscenium;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are related front elevation views of a puppet apparatusutilized in the puppet theater;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view showing details of the stage constructionand taken substantially along the line indicatcd by the arrows 66 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view taken substantially in the direction of thearrows 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating details of the construction ofcorner portions of the stage of puppet theater;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view taken substantially in the direction of thearrows 99 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along lines indicatedby the arrows 1010 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the puppetapparatus is associated with and sup ported by the stage;

FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 11 but illustrating the puppet figure asrotated to a different angle;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the puppet apparatus shown in FIGS.11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the puppet apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a platform member incorporated in the puppetapparatus and is taken along the lines indicated by the arrows 1515 inFIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a detail view in section taken substantially along the lineindicated by the arrows 1616 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a detail view of control structure for manipulating the legsof the puppet figure and is taken substantially along the line indicatedby the arrows 1717 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a detail view of locking mechanism for interconnecting theplatform and support shaft of the puppet apparatus and is takensubstantially along the lines indicated by the arrows 1818 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view in section of the puppet apparatus andis taken substantially along the line indicated by the arrows 19-19 inFIG. 5A;

FIG. .20 is a side elevation view showing the puppet figure in a seatedposition;

FIG, 21 is a fragmentary view illustrating details of the connection ofa control rod to a hand of the puppet figure; and

FIG. 22 is a detail view taken substantially along the line indicated bythe arrows 22-22 in FIG. 13.

In FIG. 1 a puppet theater constructed in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention indicated generally by the reference numeral31. The puppet theater 31 includes a proscenium 32 which is mountedwithin a wall 33. Preferably, the wall 33 extends uninterruptedlybetween a ceiling 34 and a floor 36 of a room or hall in which a numberof people, such as the observer 37, are seated to comprise the audiencefor the puppet theater 31.

As will presently be described in greater detail the puppet theaterincludes a stage 41 disposed rearwardly of the proscenium 32, and one ormore puppets 42 are movable between the various locations on the stageand are adapted to be manipulated from beneath the stage.

In accordance with the present invention the proscenium 32 includes acircular opening 43 which forms an arch over the upper surface of thestage 41. It is an im- 4 portant feature of the present invention thatthe proscenium and stage are positioned in a predetermined manner withrespect to the members of the audience. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1the upper surface of the stage 41 is disposed slightly below the centerof the proscenium opening 43 and substantially at the eye level of aseated member of the audience. By reason of this particular dispositionof the proscenium and stage with respect to the audience, an effect ofrealism is quite effectively achieved.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the proscenium 32 may preferably include afront surface design incorporating the names of leading composers in thefield of Grand Opera. The proscenium 32 also includes a replaceablefrontpiece 45 which blocks off the lower portion of the stage 41 fromthe view of the audience and which may depict a scene suitable for theparticular act being portrayed on the stage.

The puppet figures .2 are preferably manipulated in accompaniment tomusic, singing, or other audible phenomena, and for the purpose ofbroadcasting such music or the like the wall 33 may have speakers 46mounted therein and hidden from view by suitable fabric coverings or thelike.

With reference to FIG. 4, it is seen that the proscenium 32 is of anannular construction and includes a pair of partition members 47 and 48which are slightly spaced from one another. The forward partition 47includes an annular surface 49 which tapers inwardly and rearwardlyabout the opening 43. The rearward partition 43 is formed with acircular opening 51 of slightly larger diameter than the opening 43, andlighting means, in the form of a plurality of tubular light bulbs 52,are disposed within the annular chamber defined between the partitions4'7 and 48.

Curtain means 53 are disposed between the partition 48 and a sceneryholder 54 which mounts the frontpiece 45. Preferably, the curtain means53 include an illusion curtain or screen 56 and a blackout curtain S7.The illusion curtain 56 may be formed from expanded metal or likematerial so as to lend a quite decorative effect to the proscenium whendrawn to the closed position illustrated in FIG. 2. In such a closedposition the blackout curtain 57 is also drawn and the annular array oflight bulbs 52 afford illumination for the illusion curtain or screen.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-12 it is seen that the stage 41 comprisesa box frame 61 which is preferably formed by interconnected channelmembers 62A and 62B. With particular reference to FIG. 8 a preferredconnection of the channel members 62A and 628 at the corners of theframe 61 is illustrated. Thus, a channel member as 62A may have aportion of the upper and lower flanges thereof cut away from the webportion of the channel so that that portion of the web may be insertedbetween corresponding flanges of a second channel member 62B. An anglepiece 63 is abutted against the interlocked portions of the channel 62Aand 62B and rigidly connected thereto, and a plate member as 64 is alsoattached to the aligned portions of corresponding flanges on thechannels 62A and 62B. It will thus be apparent from the constructionillustrated in FIG. 8 that a quite rigid box frame is thus affordedwithout the necessity of having resort to any additional reinforcingstructure between the channels 62A or 62B. This is important inasmuch asthe interior of the frame 61 is thus made free of any frame structurethat might otherwise obstruct movement of the puppet apparatus betweenvarious locations on the stage.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6 the box frame 61 is supported on a framebase 66 which comprises vertically extending tubular members 67 andhorizontally extending members 65. Circular plates or caps 68 arethreaded on the upper ends of the tubular support members 67 and ineffect afford pedestals engageable with the undersurface of the lowerflanges of the channels 628. The frame 61 may be attached to the framebase 67 in any suitable manner. It has been found advantageous toincorporate adjustable C-clamps for clamping the channels 62 to the caps68.

As noted hereinabove, it is an important feature of the presentinvention that the upper surface of the stage 41 be disposedsubstantially at the eye level of the members of the audience seated infront of the proscenium. By way of example, it has been found quiteeffective to position the upper surface of the stage 41 at a height of 4feet and 2 inches above the floor level of the room in which the membersof the audience are seated.

In accordance with the present invention the stage 41 is formed withguide means adapted to receive a support platform of the puppetapparatus, such as the support platform indicated by the referencenumeral 71 in the puppet apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 11-14. Asillustrated in FIG. 4 such guide means include a plurality of paralleldisposed trackways 72 extending laterally across the stage and aninterconnecting trackway 73 which extends from the front of the stage tothe rear of the stage and transversely to the trackways 72.

With continued reference to FIG. 4 it is seen that the trackways 72 and73 are defined by a plurality of individual track members 74 which arearranged in two sets, as indicated generally by the reference numerals76 and 77. Thus, a track member in the set 76 is aligned with acorresponding track member in the opposite set but is slightly spacedtherefrom so as to thereby define the front to rear trackway 73. Eachtrack member 74 is connected at one end to fixed frame structure of thestage 41 and projects inwardly toward the center of the stage in acantilever manner from the end thus connected to the fixed framestructure.

This construction is best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein it isseen that each track member 74 includes 21 depending web 78 of agenerally triangular configuration affixed to the undersurface of thetrack member. The large end of the web 78 is slidably disposed between apair of angle pieces 79 which, as illustrated in FIG. 9, are connectedto the inner surface of a channel member 62A so as to define avertically extending guide for the Web 78. The end edge 78E of the web78 thus abuts the inner surface of the channel 62A.

The above-noted connection between the track members 74 and the fixedframe structure of the stage 41 is preferably made adjustable so as topermit exact alignment of the track members with one another to therebyprevent canting of the puppet figure when mounted in the trackways inthe manner illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, and this will become moreapparent from the description to follow. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 6and 7 a turnbuckle 75 is bolted to each web 78 in a portion of the webwhich is closely adjacent to that slidable between the angles 79. A bolt8% is passed upwardly through suitable openings formed in thehorizontally extending tubular member 65 which is attached to thetubular uprights 67 so that the head of the bolt engages the undersideof the member 65. The upper end of the bolt 80 is threaded within adepending end of the turnbuckle '75. A wing nut 85 is also threaded onthe portion of the bolt extending between the tubular member 65 and theturnbuckle 75 and serves to lock the bolt 80 in an adjusted position.Thus, rotation of the bolt 80 within the turnbuckle 75 is effective tovary the vertical position of the track member 74 with respect to thefixed frame structure of the stage 41.

Each of the track members 74 includes flange means for engaging theupper and lower surfaces of the platform 71 of the puppet apparatus inslidable relation therein. Thus, as best viewed in FIGS. 10-12 eachtrack member includes a pair of horizontal extending and verticallyspaced-apart flanges 81 and 82 which partially define the side walls ofa trackway 72. It has been found advantageous to construct each of thetrack members 74 as a three-piece assembly wherein a pair of upper andlower plates afford the flanges 81 and 82 and sandwich a spacer plate 83therebetween. Utilizing such construction the lower plate in eachinstance can readily be formed with circular tabs or projections 84 atthe free ends of the track members. Such tab members are effective tomaintain engagement of the track members with the lower surface of theplatform member 71 of the puppet apparatus during those instances inwhich the puppet apparatus is shifted from a laterally extendingtrackway 72 to the transversely extending trackway 73. In this manner,and as will be evidenced from an inspection of FIGS. 11 and 12, the tabmembers 84 prevent any dropping or dipping of the puppet apparatus atsuch times as the puppet apparatus may be moved through theintersections of the trackways.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIGS. 11-22, the puppetapparatus of the present invention will now be described. In thesefigures the puppet apparatus is indicated generally by the referencenumeral 101. The puppet apparatus 101 comprises both a figure 102 andmeans, which include the support platform 71 noted hereinabove, forsupporting the puppet apparatus on the track members 74 of the stage.The figure itself comprises two basic component parts, a lower torso 103and an upper torso 104. A support shaft 106 is fixed at an upper end tothe lower torso 103 and extends downwardly through a central opening inthe platform 71 and terminates in an enlarged handle 107. The handle 107thus enables the entire puppet apparatus 101 to be picked up or movedwithin the trackways in a convenient manner.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B it is seen that the uppertorso 104 is resiliently mounted on the lower torso 103 so that theupper torso is permitted to bend freely with respect to the lower torsoabout the waist of the puppet figure. The structural means affordingsuch a resilient connection between the two torso sections maypreferably comprise a pair of parallel disposed coil springs 111. Eachcoil spring is seated within a suitable recess formed in the facingsurfaces of the respective upper and lower torsos 104 and 103, and thisconstruction is best illustrated in the sectional showing of FIG. 19.

By reason of the relative proportions of the sizes of the upper andlower torsos a quite advantageous balance of the weight of the puppetfigure is achieved. That is, the greater portion of the Weight of thetorso of the puppet figure is centered within the chest of the uppertorso 104 to thereby facilitate manipulating of the puppet figure aswill become more apparent hereinafter.

A neck 112, as best illustrated in FIG. 19, is rotatably disposed withina socket 113 formed in the upper end of the upper torso 104. A head 114is formed with a generally concave recess 116 in the undersurfacethereof so as to fit over the upper end of the neck 112 and thereby capsuch portions of the neck from view. A coil spring 117 is seated atopposite ends within suitable recesses formed in the head and the neckand thus affords a resilient connection therebetween. Additionally, aflat or leaf spring 118 is disclosed generally parallel to the coilspring 117 and is fixed at one end within a slot formed in the upper endof the neck 112. At the opposite end the spring 118 is received withinan enlarged groove 119 so that some lost motion is permitted between thespring 118 and the head 114. By reason of the manner in which thesprings 117 and 118 are associated with the neck 112 and head 114 thesuspension of the head from the neck enables a quite realistic effect tobe achieved during the manipulation of the puppet figure. That is, thecoil spring 117 enables the head to be suspended in a quite flexiblemanner, and the lost motion afforded between the spring 113 and groove119 prevents the spring 118 from hindering such flexibility. However,upon tilting or nodding of the head 114 under the control of a lineattached to an eyelet 121 affixed within the concave recess 116, and ina manner to be described in greater detail hereinabove, the leaf spring1118 comes into effect to alford a positive restoring force and preventdistortion of the coil spring 117.

A control rod is integrally afiixed to the neck 112 and extendsdownwardly from the neck 112 to the handle 107. An upper section 122U ofthe control rod extends down wardly within a vertically extendingopening 123 formed in the upper torso 104. A lower section 122L of thecontrol rod extends downwardly through the lower torso 103 andconcentrically within the hollow interior of the support shaft 106. Thelowermost end of the section 122L of the control rod is bent outwardlyat a right angle, as illustrated in FIG. 14, and is slidable on arecessed surface 124 of the handle 107. Thus, the outwardly projectingend of the lower section 1221. of the control rod for the neck 112 maybe swung through an arc of approximately 180 degrees to produce acorresponding rotation of the neck 112 and the head 114.

With reference again to FIG. 19 it is seen that a universal joint 126connects the upper and lower sections of the control rod in the areaextending between the coil springs 111. In this manner, the neck andhead may be rotated independently of and without any obstruction tobending movement of the upper torso 104 about the lower torso 103.

With reference to FIGS. A and 11l4 it is seen that the puppet figure 102includes articulated arms connected to the upper torso 104. Each armincludes an upper arm 131 and a forearm 132. The upper arm 131 isconnected to the upper torso 104 in a double eyelet connection 133 whichaffords a universal joint. The forearm 132 is in turn connected to theupper arm 131 by a hinge-type joint 134.

As best illustrated in the detail view of FIG. 21, a hand 136 isconnected to the extremity of the forearm 132 by hinged-type joint 137.An eyelet 138 is mounted within the palm of each hand 136 for freeswivelling moment therein. A wire rod 139 is formed with an eyelet 141at an upper end thereof and the eyelet 141 is interlooped within theeyelet 138 so that the wire rod 139 is connected to the hand 136 in auniversal joint. As best illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 each wire rod139 extends downwardly and passes through an arcuate-shaped andelongated slotted opening 142 formed in the support platform 71. Anenlarged tip 143 is integrally attached to the lowermost end of eachwire rod 139 and facilitates manipulation of the arms and hands of thepuppet FIGURE 102, as will be apparent from an inspection of FIGURES11-14.

The puppet FIGURE 102 also includes articulated legs which depend fromthe lower torso 103. Thus, as best illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 513, eachleg includes an upper portion 151 which is connected to the lower torso103 in a hinge connection 152. Lower leg members 153 are in turnconnected to the upper members 151 at hinge joints 154. Feet 156 areconnected to the lowermost extremities of the members 153 in hingejoints 157, and such feet 156 are preferably rather heavily weighted, asby being cast of lead or other dense material, to facilitatemanipulation of the legs of the puppet figure during such periods as thearticulated legs of the puppet figure are to be moved to simulatewalking.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 5B and the detail showing of FIG. 17 acontrol knob 161 is spaced radially from the support shaft 106 by a bossor sleeve 162 and is mounted for rotation on the end of such sleeve 162.A generally U-shaped bar 163 is connected for rotation with the knob 161whereby rotation of the knob 161 in the directions indicated by thearrows in FIG. 5B swings the ends of the bar 163 through the arcsindicated by the arrows in FIG. 5B. A control line 164 is connected toeach end of the bar 163 and is passed upwardly through a linear slot 166in the support platform 71 (see FIG. Each control line 164 is connectedto an eyelet 167 in a downwardly inclined surface 168 formed on theupper end of each of the leg members 151 and is looped through eyelets169 connected to the lower torso 103. Thus, by oscillating the knob 161each leg of the puppet can be alternately raised to the positionillustrated in FIG. 14 to simulate walking movement of the puppet figurewhile the entire puppet apparatus is being moved between differentlocations on the stage within the trackways 72 and 73.

As noted hereinabove, the head 114 can be tilted upwardly and downwardlyon the neck 112 and the upper torso 104 can be tilted back and forthabout the resilient connection afforded by the springs 111 and theuniversal joint 126 at the waist of the puppet figure. As bestillustraded in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 20, the means for accomplishing suchmovement of the puppet figure include a forward control line 181 and arear control line 182. The forward control line 181 is connected at itsupper extremity to an eyelet 121 (see FIG. 19) embedded within therecess 116 in the head of the puppet figure adjacent that portion of thehead which comprises the chin of the puppet figure. The control line 181is then passed through a retaining eyelet 183 which is embedded withinthe neck 112. Thereafter, the control line 181 is passed through aneyelet 184 on the front side of the lower torso 103. This latter eyeletserves primarily to hold the control line 181 closely adjacent the bodyof the puppet figure so as to facilitate concealment of the control lineby the costume of the puppet figure. From the eyelet 184 the controlline 181 extends downwardly through a small circular opening 186 in thesupport platform 71 (see FIG. 15) and is thereafter passed throughanother opening 187 in a control bar 188 (see FIG. 22). The control bar188 is suitably afiixed to the support shaft 106 in any suitable manner,as by soldering or brazing, and the control bar 188 is convenientlydisposed adjacent the upper end of the handle 107. A ring 189 is tied tothe lowermost extremity of the control line 181 whereby an operator canby inserting a finger within the ring 189 and pulling downwardlythereon, sequentially cause the head 118 to be tilted downwardly and, byincreasing the downward force exerted on the ring 189, subsequentlycause the upper portion of the puppet figure to bend forwardly from thewaist.

The rear control line 182 is, as best illustrated in FIG. 20, connectedat its upper extremity to an eyelet 191 embedded within the back of theupper torso 104. The control line 182 is thereafter passed downwardlythrough a retaining eyelet 192 on the lower torso 103 and throughopenings 186 and 187 which correspond to the respective openings for theforward control line in the support platform 71 and control bar 188. Asecond ring 189 is tied to the lowermost end of the control line 182 inthe same manner as the control ring for the forward control line 181. Itwill be apparent therefore that downward movement of the rear controlline 182 will be effective to cause the upper torso of the puppet figureto bend rearwardly from the waist.

From the foregoing it is seen that the puppet apparatus 101 includescontrol meansin the form of the abovedescribcd lines 122, knob 161,rotatable rod 122, and wire rods 139-which are disposed beneath thesupport platform 71 and which are adapted to permit convenient andaccurate manipulation of the various component parts of the puppetfigure 102. The control lines 164, 181 and 182 described hereinabove arepreferably of a double-strand construction and of a transparentcharacter. Thus, relatively clear thin strands of nylon may bepreferably utilized.

In accordance with the present invention the puppet figure 102 can bemoved from a standing figure as illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 11-14 toa sitting position, as illustrated in FIG. 20; and such movement of thepuppet figure is accomplished in part by novel coaction between thepuppet apparatus 101 and the construction of the stage 41. Withparticular reference to FIGS. l5, l6 and 20, it is seen that the supportplatform 71 includes a radially extending circumferential flange 71F,and this flange 71F is so dimensioned that the thickness of the flangeadapts the flangs to be interfitted in mating relation between theflanges afforded by the upper and lower plates 81 and 82 of the trackmembers 74. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the puppetapparatus 101 is supported in a vertical position as illustrated by theengagement of the plates 81 and 82 with the respective upper and lowersurfaces of the radial flange 71F. It will be apparent, that once thepuppet apparatus has been positioned in this manner within the trackways72 and 73, that the plate members 81 and 82 prevent any verticalmovement of the support platform 71. At the same time the puppetapparatus 101 may be freely moved horizontally within the trackways.Thus, the support platform 71 is adapted to afford the sole connectionbetween the puppet apparatus and the stage 41. Therefore, the entireweight of the puppet apparatus must be transmitted to the stage 41through the support platform 71.

In accordance with the present invention the puppet apparatus 101includes means for releasably connecting the support shaft 106 to thesupport platform 71. Such means are illustrated in the detail view ofFIG. 18 and include a pair of pawls 201, only one of which is visible inFIG. 18. The pawls 201 are fixed to the underside of the supportplatform 71 and are curved slightly upwardly at their free ends so as todefine a concave recess 202 in the upper edges thereof. A pin 203projects radially from the support shaft 106 at diametrically opposedportions thereof and is receivable within the recess 202 of a pawl 201.Each pin 203 may be fixed to the support shaft 106 in any suitablemanner. Thus, the pins 203 may be attached to a collar 204, which may inturn be attached to a reinforcing sleeve 206 as illustrated in FIG. 16.In the disposition of the pin 203 within the recess 202 of the pawl, asillustrated in FIG. 18, the weight of the puppet figure is transferredfrom the support shaft 106 through the pins 203 and to the supportplatform 71. Thus, the weight of the puppet figure and the upturned endof the pawl 201 coact to cause the pawl and pin mechanism to function asa locking mechanism for retaining the puppet figure in the upright orstanding position illustrated in FIGS. 1114.

Should it be desired to move the puppet figure to a sitting positionsuch as that illustrated in FIG. or to some intermediate position, it isnecessary only to lift the handle 107 upwardly to thereby move the pins203 out of the recesses 202 within the pawl 201. Subsequently, the shaft106 can be rotated through approximately 90 degrees to enable the pins203 to be dropped downwardly between the pawls 201 whereupon the supportplatform '71 engages the lower surface of the feet 156 to thereby causethe legs of the puppet figure to flex at the knees afforded by thehinged joints 154. During the course .of the initial lifting movement ofthe support shaft 106, the upper plates 81 of the track member 74engages the upper surface of the flange 71F so that the support platform71 is at all times maintained in the plane of the trackways 72 and 73.

With particular reference to FIG. 20 it is seen that the sittingposition of the puppet figure is determined by a sleeve 208 whichprojects upwardly from the support platform 71 in concentric relation tothe support shaft 106. Thus, the upper end of the sleeve 208 abuts alower surface of the lower torso 103 in the position illustrated in FIG.20 to thereby limit movement of the puppet figure toward the supportplatform 71. Preferably, the sleeve 208 is afiixed to the supportplatform 71, and an enlarged collar 209 may be utilized for facilitatingsuch attachment.

As noted hereinabove, the track members 74 are formed with circular tabs84 for preventing the puppet apparatus from dropping below the level ofthe tracked portion of the stage during such times as the puppetapparatus may be moved from a trackway 72 into the trackway 73. Thus,

the puppet apparatus is adapted to be maintained in a fixed verticalposition with respect to the stage so long as the puppet apparatus ismoved about that portion of the stage which is visible to the audience.However, the present invention contemplates initial insertion of thepuppet apparatus within any one of a number of conveniently variedlocations on the stage. Thus, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, each of thetrack members 74 is formed with arcuateshaped recesses 111 in the sidesthereof closely adjacent the ends engaged with the side channels 62A ofthe frame of the stage. Such recesses enable the circular-shaped supportplatform of the puppet apparatus to be inserted within a trackway 72 andsubsequently moved into position between the projecting flanges of thetrack members.

Once the puppet apparatus is thus positioned in the trackways of thestage, it will be apparent that the various component parts of thepuppet flange can be selectively manipulated by the control mechanismdescribed in detail hereinabove to simulate various movements ofcorresponding parts of the human body.

In some instances it may be desirable to move two or more such puppetfigures to positions wherein the puppet figures may embrace one another.The present invention makes provision for such movement of the puppetsby partially serrating the circumferential flange 71F. Thus, as bestillustrated in FIG. 15, a position of the flange 71]? may be partiallyserrated to form a plurality of dogs or teeth 212 circumferentiallyspaced from one another by recesses 213. The width of the teeth 212 andthe recesses 213 are equal so that a second support platform may bemoved into a position wherein the serrated portions of the flanges 71Finterfit with one another to thereby enable the puppet figures to bepositioned in closely adjacent relation.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a novel puppet theater which enables an effect of reality to beaccomplished in a quite effective manner. The puppet theater of thepresent invention is an integrated unit in which a novel proscenium iscombined with specific stage structure and puppet apparatus in aparticular manner so as to achieve the desired effect of reality. Thestage structure of the present invention affords free and convenientmovement of the puppet figures to any desired position thereon.Furthermore, the puppet apparatus of the present invention, in additionto being a quite highly developed mechanism capable of closelysimulating substantially any desired movement of the human body, isadapted to coact with the tracked structure of the stage in a uniquemanner to enable the desired positioning of the puppet apparatus in someselected location on the stage to be obtained and also to contribute atleast in part to certain manipulations of the puppet figure.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentof the invention, it is to be understood that this is capable ofvariation and modification.

I-claim:

1. In puppet apparatus of the kind adapted to be movable along trackwaysformed in a stage and manipulated from beneath the stage, a puppethaving component parts connected together in articulated connectionswhereby the parts are movable to simulate various movements ofcorresponding parts of the human body, said puppet comprising a neckmounted for rotation within an upper portion of the torso of the puppet,a head formed with a concave recess in the under surface thereof, whichrecess is sufficiently large to enable the upper end of the neck to befreely received therein, and spring means interconnecting the neck andthe head and permitting tilting of the head with respect to the neck,said spring means comprising a coil spring and a leaf spring disposedgenerally parallel to each other and each engaged at opposite ends inspring seats formed in the base surface of said recess and the uppersurface of the neck.

(References on following page) 1 1 1 2 References Cited 2,756,540 7/1956 Cleaver 46173 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,760, 0 8/1956 Dd M215 461613; 52 RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. W0 et a 46-1 9/1948 Geller46 173 5 ANTON-.0. OECHSLE,Exammer. 12/ 1952 Di l/sva 46-173 T. ZACK,Assistant Examiner. 12/1953 Calverley 46173

